Bindi's tribute to dad
It started with the unveiling of a bronze statue of the Irwin family, including Steve’s dog, Sui, and a saltwater crocodile the family caught while on their last holiday in North Queensland before his death.
It was just what the iconic Croc Hunter would have wanted on a day that was dedicated to celebrating his life and his great passion for his family and for wildlife.
More than 6000 people flooded into Australia Zoo, many dressed in khaki in memory of Steve’s uniform, for the first ever Steve Irwin Day.
The sun was out and visitors from all over the world, including Canada, the USA, UK and Japan, packed into the crocoseum where Terri and Bindi Irwin welcomed the crowds and spoke of their passion for wildlife and their desire to continue Steve’s legacy by teaching people about conservation.
There was a message from Prime Minister John Howard who spoke of Steve as a vivacious character who left an indelible mark on the country.
School children clapped and sang along to great Aussie anthems like “A Home Among the Gum Trees” and “True Blue” as babies dressed in khaki clutched plush crocodiles in their mothers’ laps, and young people draped themselves in the Australian flag with faces painted green and gold or red white and blue.
The mood was bright when Terri, Bindi and zoo director Wes Mannion came on stage and a roar went up from the crowd.
Terri struggled with laryngitis throughout the proceedings but she thanked the public for their support during the past year and told how Steve Irwin Day stood for family, conservation and fun.
Bindi then launched two new songs, including one dedicated to her dad, in which she talked about catching snakes, jumping on
crocs and chasing lizards with her dad.
She also sang about his international stardom, singing that despite everything he did he was “just plain dad to me”.
Olivia Newton-John made a guest appearance as part of the celebrations, singing “We are Magic” and “I Honestly Love You” as well as a special Christmas song, “A mother’s Christmas wish”, which she dedicated to Terri.
She said it was important to continue Steve’s legacy by showing love and compassion towards all animals, “not just the soft and cuddly ones, but the crocs as well”.
It was then time for the Croc show, which Terri hosted with Wes, and it was during this daily event that she seemed most relaxed and at ease, as though thinking that if she couldn’t be with Steve the closest thing she could come to him was to be with crocs.
Throughout the Croc show, Terri joked around with Wes – at one stage saying that Murray the croc weighed 400kg – “almost twice as much as Wes” and at another point feeding Murray his favourite snack, a rat, and quipping that someone was going to miss out at the kiosk for lunch.
Later Terri said that the response to Steve Irwin Day had been bigger than she had expected.
Losing Steve was such a tragedy for all of us, but it has given us the opportunity to take stock and re-evaluate what’s important in our lives,” she said.
“Some days I’m still waiting for him to come through the door, and sometimes it feels like it’s only just happened, while other times it seems like it was a lifetime ago (that he died).”
She said next year’s event would be bigger and better and the zoo would continue to expand the event and keep it as an annual tradition.
“It should be an international public holiday so that everyone can take the day off and hold a big party in the bush,” she said.
She said Steve had been the closest thing to a “real life action hero” she had ever known and his spirit would continue to burn bright through conservation and at Australia zoo.
The day was capped off with a performance by Jimmy Barnes, but the celebrations will continue into the weekend with the Steve Irwin Classic, featuring a golf and surf competition.
The Australia Zoo team will get a helping hand from former pro-surfer Matt Hoy for the surf event, while Zoo director Wes Mannion will be teeing-up for the golf day.
A spokeswoman from Australia Zoo said participants would be battling it out for a chance at the Crikey Cup, which is being kept under wraps until Saturday night.
She said the event was the first major fundraiser for the Wildlife Warriors since the Croc Hunter’s death in September 2006 and was an opportunity for Australia Zoo to thank the local community for their ongoing support.
The Steve Irwin Classic will cap off with a gala dinner at the Novotel Twin Waters on Saturday night, with performances from former Australian Idol contender Ricki-Lee and up-and-coming band Inakin
Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin at the Australia Zoo Steve Irwin Day.
This bronze statue of the Irwins was unveiled at the Zoo yesterday (Steve Irwin Day). Terri said that she hopes to make Steve Irwin Day worldwide next year. A day for everyone around the world to wear their khakis.
At the end as she backed out in the boat and took off, I couldn't help but wonder if she was crying. It pains me to see her, Bindi and little Bob and not see him. I can't imagine the loss they must feel and probably still expect him to walk through the door at different times.
It would appear that it is a book about both of them and her childhood in Oregon and Steves early years in Australia. Then their meeting at the Zoo and the tv programme "The Crocodile Hunter".
